Electric switch



P. H. CHASE.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

APPLlcATmN FILED Nov. 4, 191e Patented Aug. 16; 1921.

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PHILIP E. CHASE, 0F EAST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

Original application tiled February 28, 1916, SerialvNo. 80,923.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 16', 1921.

ber 4, 1916. Serial No. 129,610.

To all whom. it ma-g/ concern:

-Be it known that I, PHILIP H. CHASE, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of East Orange, in the county'of Essex and .State of New Jersey, have invented an Improvement in Electric Switches, of which the followingis a specification.

This invention relates to electric switches, and with regard to certain more specic features, to safety devices for use in connection with manually-operated disconnecting switches for high-voltage circuits. The present application is a division of my applica. tion, SerialNo. 80,923, filed February 28,

Among the objects 'of the present invention may be noted the provision of a practical and effective switch in which the operator cannot remove the operating hook from the switch blade at certain times during the cycle of operation of the switch; the. provision of a simple and inexpensive safety device to prevent improper manipulation of a high-voltage switch in the hands of an inefiicient or careless operator; the provision of improved apparatus of the above type, of reliable action and durable under 'conditions of use; and the provision of a switch. in which the protective features are effective automatically and the danger of improper handling is reduced to a minimum. Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, combinations of elements and arrangements of parts which are to be exemplified in the structure hereinafter described, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

In the. accompanying drawings, in which is shown one of the many possible embodiments of this invention,

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a switch in which the blade handle is extended outwardly (away from the blade is apertured to receive the shield, a lock or safetyv catch being provided to hold the switch in its closed position.

Fig. 2 is a side` elevation of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an end elevation, partly in section, of Fig. 2.

ivot), and

Fig. 4 is similar to Fig. 2, except that the switch blade is shown partly open and certain parts are illustrated in section to show more clearly the internal structure.

Fig. 5 illustrates a preferred form of hook.

Divided and this application filed Novem;

Similar reference characters indicate similai` parts throughout the several views of the drawings. In considering the relation of this invention to the prior art, it may be noted that for some time past the users of manually operated switches, especially on high-voltage circuits, have encountered trouble through the failure of the operators to close Vthe switches completely, or to open them far enough toA break any arc that might form. These switches usually comprise simply, a pair of spaced and relatively insulated contact-blocks on which are mounted respectively a pivoted switch-blade and a pair of jaw-clips with which the blade contacts whenl the switch is closed. The blade may be in one or more the switch and the preference of the designer. In a double-throw switch, there is an additional contact-block, insulated relatively to the other two, and provided with a pair of jaw-clips to receive the switch blade when the switch is inthe second of its two circuit-closing positions. There are a number of varietles of these switches such as doubleand triple-pole switches, but it will sulice for the purpose of the present description to confine the illustrations to a single-pole single-throw switch, it being understood that many if not all of the advantageousl features of the present invention are applicable' to double-throw, and multiplepole, and other modifications of the prior-art switching devices.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawings, there is illustrated at 1 a base or contact-block upon which are mounted the usual jaw-clips 2 adapted to receive the blade 3, which Ais pivotally supported upon another contact-block (not shown). The blade 3 is shown as divided .in two parts, and there are therefore two 'pairs of the jaw-clips 2 cooperating therewith when the blade is in its circuit-closing position illustrated more clearly in Fig. 2.

parts, according to the size of'A l lthe aperture hook is in said aperture. The operator then- When the switch is to be opened, the operator inserts in the -aperture 7 in the blade 3 the nose 9 of a hook 10 preferably of the general type illustrated in Fig. 5. The nose 9 passes readily through the large part l1 of the aperture 7, through the smaller parts 12, 13, of said aperture. Y

lThe fixed shield or guide 16 coperates with the aperture 7 indlrectly by guiding a ivoted latch or lock 25 to cause the annu.- ar extension 26 thereof to shield or blanket the aperture 7 henever the catch 280i the lock 25 abuts against the outer surface 29 'of the fixed shield 16. When the switch blade 3 is in its closed position, show'n in Fig. 2,the catch 28 hooks under the shoulder 4 31 on ,the yfixed shield 16, and the blade 3 is thus .held closed against accidental displacement. The bladeor leaf-springs 32, 33, tend to press the lock 25 clockwise into locking position. l

The operator, in order to pull the blade 3 await/.from the'jawlclips 2 to open the switch, inserts the nose 9 of the hook 10 into 7 until thel shank 14 of said pulls in an upward direction on the hook. Thisi'causes the hook to enter the upper reduced portion 12 of the aperture 7, thereby rotating the lock p 25 counter-clockwise against the action-of the springs 32, 33, and as apreSult the catch 28 lshiftstoward. the right to a'position beyond the outer endvof the shoulder 31. This unlocks the switch and permits the operator .to pull the switch blade upward (countenclockwise) until the switch is entirely open. Then when he releases the pull on the hook, the leali-,springs 32, 33, cause the lock 25 to return clockwise to its position of rest, with the annular portion 26 thereof against the stop surface 35 oi the blade 3. The aperture 7y is then the same size as it is in Fig. 2, and the operator can readily remove the hook 10 therefrom.

' lf, however, the operator attempts to remove the hook Jfrom the switch blade while the left surface 36 of the'catch 28 on the the outer Surface 29 of the ixed shield 16,he will be unable to do so, because the annular extension 26 of the look 25 will be displaced counter-clockwise about the pivot 27 of said look, as in Fig. 4, and this 'counter-clockwise displacement of the lock 25 causes said annular portion 26 thereof to Shield or blanket the aperture 7 to such an extent that no part of the aperture vis large enough to permit the nose 9 of the hook 10 to pass through it. The operator is thusunable to remove the hook trom-the switch blade throughout a predetermined .range or lportion of the movement of the blade. Bysuitably proportioning the parts, it 1s` impossible for' the operator, either through accident or carelessness, to remove butis too large to pass of the .switch throughoutv onl cuit-closing position,

specific arrangement' or .prises preferably Lacasse the hook before he vhas completely opened the switch by pulling theblade 3 upward until itis entirely' out of contact with the jaw-clips 2.

The vertical length of the outer surface 29 of the shield' 16 determines the range ofl movement l of blade 3 through which the operator is prevented Jfrom removing the hook 10: the parts may beso designed as to have this range 'of movement such that the operator must pull the blade out of contact with the jaw-cl1ps, and then through a further angle order to make sure that any arcing at 'fthe contacts is broken prior to disconnecv tion; yor the protected range may extend only to the point 4where Contact is actually broken;A or 'the shield l6 may be made shorter, 'with a corresponding reduction of cost. and the protected range of movement will then extend from the) closed position y y part of the angle through which the blade is in contact with the jaw-clips 2.

ln closing tion is alforded, in that theoperator cannot remo-ve the hook until the switch is substanl LAs the tially or entirely closed and locked. switch blade moves downwardly into cirwardly onthe 'beveled surface 38 of thev shield 1 6, therebyy swinging the lock 25 counter-clockwise ,against the action of springs 32, 33. 'During the ensuing downf ward movement of the blade 3, the left surface 36 of the catch 28 rides along the "outer surface 29 of the shield 16v until the switch reaches its closed position, at which time the springs 32, 33, swing the catch V28 clockwise until said catch passes 'under the shoulder 31 of the shie1d16, thereby restoring the partsto the relative positions indi'- cated in Fig. 2. l

AThe stationary shield 16 may be mounted on the jaw-'clips 2, or on the base 1, or eisewhere, as may be found convenient, or it may-be a partof the jaw-clips. g

The proportioning of the` parts, particularly *theshape of the aperture 7, is illus- `trated somewhat conventionally, since the invention is npt limited to any 'particular shape of said aperture,

v disposition of parts not inconslstent with the present disclosure.

the switch, a similar protec the catch 28- rides out- .i

nor indeed to any" The'hook 10 illustrated in Fig. 5 coma wooden or other insulating pole or handle 40, upon which is fitted a ferrule 44:1, of bronze or other suitable y material. This errule extends longitudi nally of the handle i and then transverse y o the handle, andl the transverse or lateral shank 1li of the ierrule, terminates in a nose 9 somewhat larger than V40 fora `short distance,

the shank but smaller'than the aperture 7 of vthe switch` with which` the hook is to be y used; theshank is preferably provided with a guard 18- larger than the aperture 7,` so

that the hook cannot be inserted too far in said aperture.

From the above it will be seen that the several objects of the invention are achieved, and other advantageus results attained.

As various changes might be inade in the above construction, and as the above invention might bev embodied in different forms, it is intended that all matter set forth in the above description and in the accompanying drawings, shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus revealed my invention I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States:

l. An electric switch combining a. blade member adapted to close a circuitand comprising two spaced parts substantially in the plane of the blade and having registering apertures adapted to receive an operating implement, means comprising a fixed shield extending between said spaced parts, and means controlled by said shield and adapted to blanket said apertures throughout a portion of the movement of said blade, to prevent removal of the implement from said apertures throughout said portion of the movement of the blade.

2. An electric switch combining a blade member comprising an extension having two spaced parts substantially in the plane of the blade and having registering apertures adapted to receive a. hook provided with a shank and a nose, fixed contact means cooperating witli said blade, a fixed shield extending between said spaced parts, and means operated by said shield and blanketing said apertures throughout a portion of the movement-of said blade, to reduce said apertures to a size larger than said shank but smaller than said nose, to prevent removal of the hook from said apertures throughout said portion of the movement of the blade.

3. An electric switch combining a blade, an extension on said blade having an aperture to receive an operating implement, and having a slot, and means comprising a fixed member extending through said slot throughout a portion of the movement of the blade, and means controlled by said first means and preventing removal of said implement from said aperture throughout a predetermined portion of the movement o f the blade.

4. An electric switch combining a blade,

.an extension on said blade having an aperture-to receive a hook provided with a shank and a nose, and having a slot, fixed contact means cooperating with said blade, and means extending through said slot throughout a portion of the movement of the blade, and meanscontrolled by said first means and effecting the blanket-ing of said aperture throughout a portion of the movement of the blade ,to an extent sufhcient to prevent removal of said hook from said apertuie throughout said latter portion of' the movement of the blade.

5. An electric switch combining a blade 6. An electric switch combining a blade member having a bracket substantially in the plane of the blade and apertuaed to receive an operating implement and slotted in the direction of' movement of said member, fixed contact means extending through said slot and cooperating with said blade when the blade is in circuit-closing position, means for locking said blade in circuit-closing position, means operated by the operating implement for releasing said locking means and blanketing said aperture to an extent sufiicient to prevent removal of the implement from said aperture, and means for retaining said lockingmeans in said blanketing position throughout a predetermined portion of the range of movement of the blade to prevent removal of' the implement from said aperture throughout said portion.

7. An electric switch combining a blade. member having a bracket substantially in the plane-of the blade and apertured to receive an operating implement, a guide extending through a slot. in said blade meinber when the blade is in circuit-closing position, means for locking said blade in circuit-closing position, and means operated by said implement for releasing said locking means and simultaneously blanketiiig ,said aperture to prevent removal of said implement from saidaperture, said guide maintaining said locking means in said blanketing position throughout a. predetermined range of the movement of the blade.

8. An electric switch combining a blade, an extension on said blade having an aperture to receive an operating implement, '.nd having a slot, a member extending through said slot-throughout a portion of the movement of the blade, and means operated by said implement for blanketing said aperture to prevent removal of said implement from said aperture, said fmember maintaining said lockingmeans in said blanketiiig position throughout a predetermined range of' the movement of the blade.

9. An electric switch combining a blade` an extension on said blade having anA aperder to lock the blade 1n its circuit-closing'- throughout a portion of 'the blade, i,means for lockingsaid blade in its circuit-closing position, and means operated by said'hook Jfor releasing said lo'cklngl means and simultaneously blanketing said aperture -to reduce said aperture to a size larger than said shank but smaller than said nose,to prevent removal of said hook from said aperture, said member coperating with said locking means tov maintain said locking means in saidblanketingposition through'--- out a predetermined range of the movement of the blade. l0. An electric switch combining ablade provided With .a slotted `bracket having an aperture to recelve an operating implement, K fixed contact means cooperating with saidv blade to close a circuit, a gulde registering with said slot and provided with a shoulder a latch pivotally mounted on said blade and having a catch cooperating with saidshoulposition, means tending to maintain-said latch -in its locking position7 andan "extension on said latch partially blanketing said aperture, vvhereby i when inserted insaid aperture, ment ofthe implementin said implement is the direction for opening the switch forces said catch away to unlocksaid blade,- the I guide preventing the removal of the implerom Said' shoulder ment throughout a predetermined range of the movement ,of the blade.- l

11. An electric switch comprisin a switch blade, a slotted bracket secured tot e blade,

a guide registering with the slot and having lguide maintaining 4the latch in unlocking said apertures,

the initial moveiezeee a catch lug, and a latch pivotally connected to the bracket, said bracket being at such distance from the pivot ofthe blade as to cause the latch to coact With the catchlug When the blade is closed, 4said bracket having an eye to be engaged by an operating implement, and the latch when locking and unlocking vposition overlapping said eye, the position to prevent removal of the hook throughout a substantial portion of `the movement of the blade.

12. 4An electric switch combining a blade having .atits outer end, beyond the jaw clips, apertures on .either side of the plane .of the blade for the'reception of an operating implementQa pivoted latch mounted on said blade adjacent said aperture and having a portion extending into and between a fixed-shield on or adjacent the. jaw! clips and provided with a catch cooperating vvith the latch to lock the blade in closed position, the initial movement lof the implement in the aperture in a blade-opening direction serving to unlock the latch. l13.- 'n electric switch eombinin a blade having at its outer end beyondthe jaw clips, a pair of apertures therein orfthe reception of an operating implement, a locking device having a pivoted portion on the blade and a ixed ca'tchon or adjacent the jaw clips, Land means whereby the initial movement ot the implement in Said apertures swings the pivoted portionto unlock the blade'and permit it to be opened.; 1 v f K v.ln testimony whereof, have signed my name to this specification this Lith day of November, i916. f f 

